RS Tera Northern Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club
by Jennie Clark 1 May 2016 21:01 BST
30 April 2016
A magnificent entry of 37 boats made for the biggest entry ever for the RS Tera Northern Championships, hosted by Bassenthwaite Sailing Club on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May 2016. This was the second year that the club had hosted the Northern Championships and the expanded fleet was recognition not only of how the class has grown in the North over the last few years but also recognition of the reputation of the host club for the excellent way in which they had run the 2015 event.
Oliver Kent (Ripon SC) showed a clean pair of heels in the first race for the Pro fleet getting away in clean air and building up a good lead. He was followed home by Kevin Farrell (Llandudno SC) and Cameron Straughan (Derwent Reservoir SC). In the Sport fleet Ellie Clark (Ripon SC), making a return to Tera sailing after 6 months in the Feva and Europe classes, also got away in clean air and by the 3rd mark was leading the fleet by a leg of the course. Josh Manning (Leigh and Lowton SC) finished in second place with Thomas Donald (Derwent Reservoir SC) in 3rd and Theo Stewart (Windermere School) 4th.
Race two saw Clark once again take line honours in the Sport fleet, with Eilish Graham (Ripon SC/Derwent Reservoir SC) having the race of her life with a great start and some excellent shift reading moving her up the fleet to finish 2nd. Manning had to settle for 3rd, with James Johnson (Windermere School) 4th. The Pro fleet had a new leader – Pierce Harris (Windermere School) making up for his death roll in the first race. Kent had to settle for 2nd with Eddie Farrell 3rd and Straughan 4th. The fleet then came ashore for a break to allow the Catapult fleet to get their afternoon races in, and a much needed break from the windy conditions was welcomed by all. Some took the chance to re-fuel, others to kayak or just get thoroughly wet!
Races 3 and 4 were sailed back to back, with some great racing displayed in both fleets. The shore based supporters enjoyed watching the racing and the tactics. In the Pro fleet Ollie Kent took control of the race, being followed home by the Farrell brothers Kevin and Eddie. Cameron Straughan was fourth. Kent got race 4 in the bag too, with Tatiana Dickinson (Derwent Reservoir SC) in second place, and George Combe (also DRSC) in fourth. In the Sport fleet James Johnson sailed a great race to finish first, followed by fellow Windermere School pupil Fergus Meanwell in 2nd, Thomas Donald in 3rd and Josh Manning in 4th.
The forecast for Sunday was for stronger winds and it didn't disappoint. A postponement for an hour didn't see the wind let up and another postponement followed but with the wind building continually and hitting 30 knots the Race Officer made the very wise decision to abandon for the remainder of the event.
Overall Results: (top four)
Pro fleet
1st Oliver Kent, Ripon SC
2nd Kevin Farrell, Llandudno SC
3rd Eddie Farrell, Llandudno SC
4th Cameron Straughan, Derwent Reservoir SC
Sport fleet
1st Ellie Clark, Ripon SC
2nd John Manning, Leigh and Lowton SC
3rd Thomas Donald, Derwent Reservoir SC
4th James Johnson, Windermere School